Rail-joint.



' No. 837,268. PATENTED NOV. 27, 1906.

L. S. GORDON.

RAIL JOINT- I 'Arrmoulon nun JUNE 23,1908.

THE NCIRRIS PETERS cc. wsnmarmv, n.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS S. GORDON, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TOJAMES B. MOMULLEN, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 27, 1906.

Application filed June 23, 1906- Serial No. 323.146.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS S. GORDON, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Oil City, in the county of Venango and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inRail-Joints, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the ac companying drawings.

This invention relates to rail-joints particularly designed forsteam-railroads wherein heavy rails are employed to form a track forrolling-stock.

The invention has for its object the provision of positive andreliablemeans for effectually joining together the confronting ends of twosections of rails, whereby lateral or vertical displacement of one railwith relation to its adjoining rail is entirely eliminated.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensiverail-joint requiring little, if any, skill in assembling anddisconnecting the parts thereof.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide novel means forpreventing the rails of a track from spreading.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a rail-jointhaving practically a continuous tread for the rolling-stock.

WVith these and other objects in view, which will more readily appear asthe invention is better understood, the invention consists in the novelconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be presentlydescribed, illustrated, and specifically pointed out in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1is a cross-sectional view of a track, illustrating an end view of two ofmy improved rail-joints. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a rail-joint,illustrating the outer side of the joint. Fig. 3 is a similar view ofthe inner side of the joint. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the end ofone of the rail-sections, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of anintermediate tread-block.

The rails 1 and 2 which are to be joined have their heads 3 milled toform an inclined tread-seat 4, having a longitudinallydisposed groove 5formed therein.

In connection with the milled ends of the ra ls I use an intermediatetread-block 6, said block consisting of a base 7, a web 8, and

a tread portion 9. The tread portion has its underneath end facesbeveled, as at 10, to engage the seats 4 of the rails 1 and 2. Eachbeveled face of tread-block 6 is provided with a dependinglongitudinally disposed web or flange 1]., adapted to fit into thegrooves 5 of the rails 1 and 2. The webs or flanges 11 assist inmaintaining the rails 1 and 2 in longitudinal alinement and prevent thetread-block from being laterally dlsplaced when rolling-stock is passingover the same.

T o retain the rails together and in engagement with the tread-block, Iuse a chair 12 of sufficient length to rest upon the ties or sleepers1 1. The chair comprises a base 15, the edge of which is bent to embracethe baseflanges of rails, as at 16, while the opposite edge of the basecarries a fish-bar 17, which embraces the rails and extends upwardlyalongside of the heads of said rails and tread portion 9 of the block 6.The fish-bar 17 is secured to the rails 1 and 2 by a plurality of nutsand bolts 18.

By referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be observed that when myimproved joints are used in connection with a track the fish-bars 17 arearranged upon the outer sides of the track to brace and strengthen therails and the intermediate tread-blocks. To further assist in thisrespect, I employ railbraces 19, which are spiked to the ties 14 and areadapted to brace the fish-bar 17 and prevent the rails of the track fromspreading.

In using an intermediate tread-block and bracing said block at its base,side, and top I eliminate the jar and noise of rolling-stock whenpassing over the same and reducethe expense of track maintenance.

I do not care to confine myself to the size, sha e, or minor details ofconstruction, as suc changes as are permissible by the appended claimsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rail-joint, the combination with rails having their headscutaway and grooved to form inclined tread-seats, of an intermediatetread-block mounted between the ends of said rails, and having a treadortion adapted to bear upon said seats, a 0 air embracing the ends ofsaid rails, and said block, and having a fish-bar extending upwardalongside of the heads of said rails, and tread pordepending webscarried by said portion and tion of said block, means to secure saidrails engaging in the grooves of said seats, a chair in said chair, andmeans in combination with embracing said rails and said block, means toties for bracing said chair, substantially as secure said rail and saidblock in said chair, 15 3 5 described. substantially as described.

2. In a rail-joint, the combination with In testimony whereof I afliX mysignature adjoining rails having their ends milledto in the presence oftwo witnesses.

form inclined seats having grooves formed LEWIS S. GORDON. therein, of atread-block interposed between Witnesses: lo the ends of said rails, atread portion carried JAMES B. MOMULLEN,

by said block and bearing upon said seatsg WM. H. WEIGLE.

